The Worcestershire Historic Towns Survey the Story of Broadway

The Worcestershire Historic Towns Survey

The Story of Broadway

Broadway is in the south-east of Worcestershire, to the south-east of Evesham. Broadway became important in the medieval period, and continued to be a significant town in the post-medieval period. After a difficult time in the 16th century the town became prosperous again in the 17th and 18th centuries.

There is little archaeological evidence for settlement in the Broadway area in the prehistoric and Roman period.

An estate at Broadway was owned by Pershore Abbey in the 10th century. The Domesday Book records a priest, so there was probably a church by that time.

Broadway was as a medieval new town created by the Abbey of Pershore either in the late 12th century or mid-13th century. Broadway was thriving in the late 13th century, but seems to have declined in the early 14th century. The town was owned by Pershore Abbey until the abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539.

Broadway seems to have been prosperous in the 17th and 18th centuries even though it was no longer formally classed as a town. As in other Cotswold towns, wealth was based on the wool and cloth trade. After the turnpike roads were built in the 17th century, Broadway became an important stop on coaching routes.

The medieval town of Broadway

The evidence from archaeological investigations, from maps and from documentary sources has allowed archaeologists to interpret the components which made up the medieval town of Broadway. These areas are shown on the map.

Medieval Broadway consisted of seven components: the grange, the market place, the street system, and four areas of housing.

Grange (WSM17728). Abbot’s Grange lies at the eastern end of Broadway. Documentary records show that as well as the 14th century hall, oratory and chamber that survive as standing buildings, there was a kitchen, gatehouse, stables and bakehouse.

Market place (WSM17727). A weekly market was held at Broadway from 1196. The market place is identified as the triangular area at the west end of the High Street (The Green) and the wide High Street as far east as Leamington Road.

Street system (WSM17733).

Areas of housing (WSM17729, WSM17730, WSM17732 and WSM17732).

WSM numbers refer to records held by the Historic Environment Record (HER) of Worcestershire County Council. These used to have the prefix HWCM, but the numbers have stayed the same. Contact the HER for further information.

The post-medieval town of Broadway

The evidence from archaeological investigations, from maps and from documentary sources has allowed archaeologists to interpret the components which made up the post-medieval town of Broadway. The map shows the outlines of these areas. This account of post-medieval Broadway covers the period from 1540 to 1800.

Post-medieval Broadway consisted of twelve components: a church, the market place, the street system, and nine tenement plots.

Church (WSM01291). A chapel of ease was built near the market place in 1608, although the medieval parish church 1km south of the town continued in use. The 17th century church was rebuilt in 1839.

Market place (WSM17727). The medieval market place continued in use in the post-medieval period, although the market ceased to function by the end of the 17th century.

Street system (WSM17733).

Areas of housing (WSM17729, WSM17730, WSM17731, WSM17732, WSM17734, WSM17735, WSM17736, WSM17737, WSM17739). The four medieval tenement plots were occupied in the post-medieval period, and contain post-medieval buildings. Broadway expanded to the east and west during the post-medieval period, and further areas were built up. The main Abbot’s Grange buildings became a private house, and the precinct was subdivided into separate tenements (WSM17734).

Archaeological fieldwork in Broadway

Very little recorded archaeological work was undertaken in Broadway until the later 1990s.

The following is a list of all the published archaeological work within the historic core of the town up to July 2009. The letters and codes in brackets are the Historic Environment Record reference numbers.

Cook, S, 1997 Church Lane/High Street Broadway, Hereford and Worcester - Archaeological Evaluation Report, Oxford Archaeology Unit (WSM24600)

Cook, S, 1997 Church Lane/High Street Broadway, Hereford and Worcester - Archaeological Excavation Report, Oxford Archaeology Unit (WSM38126)

Edwards, R, and Woodiwiss, S, 1990 Evaluation at Abbot's Grange, Broadway, Worcestershire County Council Archaeological Service Internal Report, 40 (WSM29557)

Gater, J. Gaffney, C. 1990. Geophysical Survey - Abbot's Grange, Broadway. Geophysical Surveys (now GSB) 90/15. (WSM30064).

Jackson, R A, 1992 Assessment of the proposed route of Broadway bypass, Worcestershire County Council Archaeological Service Internal Report, 108 (WSM28577)

Miller, D, Hurst, D, and Jones, L, 2000 Archaeological Evaluation at the Gordon Factory Site, Broadway, Worcestershire County Council Archaeological Service Internal Report, 860 (WSM30074)

Morriss, R. 1991. The Lygon Arms Hotel, Broadway, Worcestershire - Preliminary Notes on the Architecture. City of Hereford Archaeological Service Internal Report, 121 (WSM29579)

Thomason, D. 2004. Former Gordon Russell Factory Site, Broadway, Worcestershire - Archaeological Investigation Report 1790. Oxford Archaeology. (WSM33637)

Topping, J. 1995. Watching Brief at 58b High Street, Broadway. Worcestershire County Council Archaeological Service Internal Report, 409 (WSM23036)

Topping, J, 1996 Salvage recording at 108 High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire County Council Archaeological Service Internal Report, 450 (WSM23932)

Wichbold, D, 1994 Salvage recording at 96 High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire County Council Archaeological Service Internal Report, 269 (WSM21625)

Williams, P. 2005. Archaeological Evaluation at Land Adjacent to Farnham House, Church Street, Broadway. Mercian Archaeology PJ137. (WSM34360)

Williams, P, and Cook, M, 2003 An Archaeological Watching Brief at 107 High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire, Mercian Archaeology Internal Report, 111 (WSM32989)

Historic Buildings in Broadway

Most of the historic buildings in Broadway are stone houses built in the 17th century. A few medieval, 18th and 19th century buildings also survive.

Abbot's Grange and the Broadway Hotel are both medieval in date. Both are now complex buildings which have been extended and altered over time, and both have timber-framed elements dating to the 14th century. There are a few other complete or partial medieval buildings surviving along the High Street, including the early 14th century Prior's Manse.

Stone became the most common building material in Broadway early in the 17th century, and a large number of 17th century houses survive. The building style used for houses in the Cotswolds throughout the 17th and 18th centuries did not change very much. The buildings suggest it was a prosperous town at this time, mainly thanks to the Cotswold wool trade. The Lygon Arms is 17th century in date, and would have belonged to a wealthy family.

In the 18th century a few larger and grander houses were built. Later 19th century houses were built in a similar style, so most of the buildings in the historic town seem to fit in.